GKIDS to Distribute Studio Ghibli’s Princess Kaguya

GKIDS continues to build their relationship with Japan’s Studio Ghibli with the announcement that they will be handling North American distribution for The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, the latest from the studio’s cofounder Isao Takahata (Grave of the Fireflies), his first animated feature film as a director in 14 years.

Last year, GKIDS distributed Studio Ghibli’s From Up on Poppy Hill and they also handle the North American distribution for the studio’s library of films including Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke as well as Takahata’s acclaimed earlier film.

GKIDS plans on releasing Takahata’s film in the Fall with a full campaign for awards, and Studio Ghibli is currently working on an English-dubbed version of the film with Frank Marshall executive producing, the same team that did the dub of last year’s The Wind Rises and “Poppy Hill.”

The official press release from GKIDS can be read below:

GKIDS, a distributor of award-winning animation for both adult and family audiences, announced that it has entered into a distribution agreement with Studio Ghibli for the North American rights to the upcoming animated feature THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA. Directed by Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata, the film is slated for a late 2014 theatrical release and Awards submissions.

The deal was negotiated by Eric Beckman from GKIDS and Geoffrey Wexler from Studio Ghibli, with GKIDS taking all theatrical, non-theatrical, home video and television rights in North America.

Eight years in the making, the film is the untold story of The Princess Kaguya, the heroine of the ancient Japanese folktale The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.

An English-language version is being produced by Studio Ghibli and Geoffrey Wexler, with Frank Marshall of Kennedy/Marshall Executive Producing. This is the same team that handled English versions for the two previous Studio Ghibli films, The Wind Rises and From Up on Poppy Hill.

GKIDS and Studio Ghibli partnered on the 2013 release of the animated feature From Up on Poppy Hill and GKIDS handles North American theatrical distribution for the Studio Ghibli library of films, one of the worlds most coveted animation collections with titles including Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke and others. GKIDS also handles theatrical distribution for Isao Takahatas Grave of the Fireflies, widely considered a masterpiece.